Scott Parazynski Everest Update 28 March 2008

Scott Parazynski: update from Namche Bazar, 11,300 feet above sea level: Our team arrived in Lukla via “Yeti Airlines” two days ago, and we immediately departed up the hill towards our first encampment in the village of Phakding. We passed some of the most beautiful scenery and photogenic kids I’ve ever seen.

Huge, engaging smiles greet us everywhere we travel — I think the local residents take such a positive attitude from the beauty around them. Yesterday we trekked up a very steep trail towards our current position, Namche Bazar.

Our timing couldn’t have been better, as Friday and Saturday is the regional market. Vendors from all over the Khumbu and from Tibet bring their wares for sale here. We saw some of the hardiest porters in the universe yesterday climbing with huge loads of lumber, some of which were easily in excess of their own body weight! Our entire team is acclimatizing very well, staying ahead on hydration and eating and sleeping well. In two days time we head up even further towards our goal of Everest, the village and monastery at Tengboche.

This morning I arose at 0530 to climb up to a high point above the village, where I saw Everest for the first time — the sun rising dramatically from behind it. Huge swirling clouds over it and Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain in the world, showed the power of the jet stream at those altitudes.

I was also fortunate to meet my Sherpa this morning, Ang Chiring (Kami) Sherpa, who seems to be a very warm and friendly person, on top of being a world class climber. He had downclimbed from Everest Base Camp this morning, departing at 3 am. He’ll head back up to his home in Phortse tonight, and then we’ll reconvene at base camp in a little over a week.

Namaste,
Scott